JP2015123598A - Image formation device, control method for image formation, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system in which an image data can be printed by avoiding print stain in a case where the print stain is printed on a printing result.SOLUTION: A command for outputting image data to paper medium is received from a user at an image formation device for outputting. Based on the image data having been digitized from the outputted paper medium, position information of print stain that is printed on the paper medium due to abnormality of the image formation device is specified. When receiving an output command for the image data at the image formation device from a user, by using position information of the image data and position information of print stain, the image data is outputted so as to print the image data at a position of the paper medium which does not overlap with the print stain.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method for the image forming apparatus, and a program, and more particularly, to a mechanism capable of printing image data while avoiding printing stains when printing stains are printed on a printing result.

  In recent years, multifunctional peripherals (MFPs) having functions such as scanners, facsimiles, printers, and copiers are used in offices and the like.

  In such a multi-function peripheral, when there is a drum / toner defect, when the user executes printing, printing stains (dots, vertical stripes, horizontal stripes, etc.) may be printed in the output result.

  However, in current multifunction devices, the user often notices a drum or toner defect only when the user executes printing and notices that print stains are printed in the output result.

  In addition, in order to correct defects of the drum and toner, it is often necessary to replace them, and until the replacement, the user waits without printing or waits for printing stains to be printed. And had to print.

JP 2011-100013 A

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867 has a mechanism that prevents information waste by preliminarily preventing recording paper from being shared by transmitting information that is being printed with an abnormal print quality to another user's PC. It is disclosed.

  However, in Patent Document 1, only a printing abnormality is notified to another user, and the user still waits without printing or printing stains are printed until the trouble of the drum / toner is resolved. I had to put up with printing and execute printing.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism capable of printing image data while avoiding print stains when print stains are printed on a print result.

  According to the present invention, a first output unit that receives and outputs an instruction to output image data to a paper medium in the image forming apparatus, and the paper medium output from the image forming apparatus by the first output unit is digitized. Identification means for specifying the position information of the print stains printed on the paper medium due to an abnormality of the image forming apparatus from the image data, and storage means for storing the position information of the print stains specified by the specification means; Output instruction receiving means for receiving an output instruction of image data in the image forming apparatus from a user, position information of the image data received by the output instruction receiving means for outputting to a paper medium from the user, and Using the print stain position information stored in the storage means, the image data is output to be printed at a position that does not overlap the print stain on the paper medium. Characterized in that it comprises a second output means for.

  The present invention also provides a method for controlling an image forming apparatus including a first output unit that receives and outputs an instruction to output image data to a paper medium in the image forming apparatus, and the first output unit includes the first output unit. From the image data obtained by digitizing the paper medium output by the image forming apparatus, a specifying step for specifying positional information on print stains printed on the paper medium due to an abnormality in the image forming apparatus, and the specifying step in the specifying step The output instruction is received by the user in the storage process for storing the print smear position information, the output instruction reception process for receiving the image data output instruction in the image forming apparatus from the user, and the output instruction reception process in outputting to the paper medium. The position information of the image data received from the image data and the position information of the print stain stored in the storage step are used to apply a position that does not overlap the print stain of the paper medium. Characterized in that it comprises a second output step of outputting the image data so as to print the image data.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program executed by an image forming apparatus including a first output unit that receives and outputs an instruction to output image data to a paper medium in the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus includes: Specifying means for specifying position information of print stains printed on the paper medium due to an abnormality in the image forming apparatus from image data obtained by digitizing the paper medium output from the image forming apparatus by the first output means; Storage means for storing the position information of the print stain specified by the specifying means, output instruction receiving means for receiving an output instruction of image data in the image forming apparatus from a user, and the output when outputting to a paper medium Using the position information of the image data received by the instruction receiving means from the user and the position information of the print stain stored in the storage means, Wherein the function as a second output means for outputting the image data to be printed the image data in a position that does not overlap with the printing stain.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when printing stain is printed on a printing result, the mechanism which can print image data avoiding printing stain can be provided.

It is a system configuration figure showing an example of a system configuration concerning an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a printing device 103 illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the data table which temporarily preserve | saves the information of the image data which a user desires to print, and the information of printing stains. It is a figure which shows an example of the flowchart of the process which detects the printing stain which CPU301 of the printing device 103 of this invention performs. It is a figure which shows an example of the image of the process of step S407 in this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the flowchart of a printing dirt evacuation process in this invention. FIG. 6 is an example of a warning dialog displayed on the operation unit 308 of the printing device 103 in step S604. FIG. 6 is an example of a confirmation dialog displayed on the operation unit 308 of the printing device 103 in step S607. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flowchart of print setting calculation processing in the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the method of specifying a printable area | region in this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the method of specifying a printable area | region in this invention. FIG. 4 is an example of an image diagram for changing the arrangement of image data so that the image data does not overlap print stains in the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
<Description of FIG. 1>

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a system configuration according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In the information processing system in FIG. 1, the client terminal 101, the server 102, and the printing device 103 are in a state where they can be connected via the LAN 1. Any network other than the LAN may be used.
<Description of FIG. 2>

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the printing device 103 illustrated in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 316 denotes a controller unit that is connected to a scanner 314 that functions as an image input device and a printer 312 that functions as an image output device, and is connected to a LAN or a public line (WAN) (for example, PSTN or ISDN). By doing so, image data and device information are input and output.

  In the controller unit 316, reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU, which is a processor that controls the entire system. Reference numeral 302 denotes a RAM, which is a system network memory for operating the CPU 301, and is also a program memory for recording a program and an image memory for temporarily recording image data.

  A ROM 303 stores a system boot program and various control programs. A hard disk drive (HDD) 304 stores various programs for controlling the system, image data, and the like.

  An operation unit interface (operation unit I / F) 307 is an interface unit with the operation unit (UI) 308 and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 308 to the operation unit 308.

  The operation unit I / F 307 serves to transmit information (for example, user information) input by the system user from the operation unit 308 to the CPU 301. Note that the operation unit 308 includes a display unit having a touch panel, and various instructions can be given by a user pressing (touching with a finger or the like) a button displayed on the display unit.

  A network interface (Network I / F) 305 is connected to a network (LAN) and inputs / outputs data. A modem (MODEM) 306 is connected to a public line and inputs / outputs data such as FAX transmission / reception.

  Reference numeral 318 denotes an external interface (external I / F), which is an I / F unit that accepts external inputs such as USB, IEEE 1394, printer port, and RS-232C. In this embodiment, for reading an IC card required for authentication The card reader 319 is connected to the external I / F unit 318. The CPU 301 can control reading of information from the IC card by the card reader 319 via the external I / F 318, and can acquire information read from the IC card. The above devices are arranged on the system bus 309.

  Reference numeral 320 denotes an image bus interface (IMAGE BUS I / F), which is a bus bridge that connects the system bus 309 and an image bus 315 that transfers image data at high speed and converts the data structure.

  The image bus 315 is configured by a PCI bus or IEEE1394. The following devices are arranged on the image bus 315.

  A raster image processor (RIP) 310 develops vector data such as a PDL code into a bitmap image. A printer interface (printer I / F) 311 connects the printer 312 and the controller unit 316, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. A scanner interface (scanner I / F) 313 connects the scanner 314 and the controller unit 316 and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data.

  An image processing unit 317 performs correction, processing, and editing on input image data, and performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on print output image data. In addition to this, the image processing unit 317 performs image data rotation and compression / decompression processing such as JPEG for multi-valued image data and JBIG, MMR, MH for binary image data.

  The scanner 314 illuminates an image on paper as a document and scans it with a CCD line sensor, thereby converting it into an electrical signal as raster image data. The original paper is set on the tray of the original feeder, and when the apparatus user gives a reading start instruction from the operation unit 308, the CPU 301 gives an instruction to the scanner 314, and the feeder feeds the original paper one by one to read the original image. I do.

  The printer 312 is a part that converts raster image data into an image on paper. The method is an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, and an image is directly printed on paper by ejecting ink from a minute nozzle array. There are inkjet methods for printing, but any method may be used. The activation of the printing operation is started by an instruction from the CPU 301. The printer 312 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and has a paper cassette corresponding thereto.

  The operation unit 308 has an LCD display unit, and a touch panel sheet is pasted on the LCD. The operation unit 308 displays an operation screen of the system. When a displayed key is pressed, the position information is displayed on the operation unit I / F 307. To the CPU 301 via The operation unit 308 includes, for example, a start key, a stop key, an ID key, a reset key, and the like as various operation keys.

  Here, the start key of the operation unit 308 is used when starting a document image reading operation. At the center of the start key, there are two color LEDs, green and red, which indicate whether or not the start key can be used. Further, the stop key of the operation unit 308 functions to stop the operation in operation. The ID key of the operation unit 308 is used when inputting the user ID of the user. The reset key is used when initializing settings from the operation unit.

  The card reader 319 reads information stored in an IC card (for example, Sony FeliCa (registered trademark)) under the control of the CPU 301, and reads the read information via the external I / F 318. The CPU 301 is notified.

  With the configuration described above, the printing device 103 can transmit the image data read from the scanner 314 to the LAN 1 and print out the print data received from the LAN 1 by the printer 312.

Further, the image data read from the scanner 314 can be faxed to the public line by the modem 306, and the image data received by fax from the public line can be output by the printer 312.
<Description of FIG. 4>

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flowchart of processing for detecting printing stain (also referred to as printing abnormality) executed by the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 according to the present invention.

  In step S401, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 receives and executes a print instruction for the image (A) from the user. The image (A) is an image that the user desires to print, and is, for example, an image that is transmitted from the client terminal 101 to the print device 103 as a print job in a page description language format and converted into bitmap data. When the user copies a paper medium such as an original, an image scanned by the paper medium and captured in the printing device 103 is an image (A). Step S401 is an example of a first output unit that receives and outputs an instruction to output image data to a paper medium in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  In step S402 and step S403, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 displays the document size, the image image, and the position information of the image (A) on the printing paper when the image (A) is captured, and the temporary data table (temporary area) in FIG. 301 is stored.

  In step S <b> 404, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 determines whether a “stain detection button” (not shown) displayed on the operation unit 308 of the printing device 103 has been pressed by the user.

  If the stain detection button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S406, and if the stain detection button is not pressed, the process proceeds to step S405. In step S404, when the user presses the smudge detection button, the print result obtained by printing the image (A) in step S401 is visually checked by the user, and the printed paper medium is determined when the user determines that the image is dirty. Set again on the tray of the document feeder and execute.

  In step S405, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 deletes the information on the image (A) stored in steps S402 and S403 from the temporary data table in FIG.

  In step S406, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 scans the paper medium printed in step S401 and set again on the tray of the document feeder, and the image (B) obtained by the scanning is stored in the temporary data table 302 of FIG. Save to.

In step S407, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 uses a known technique to calculate the difference between the image (A) stored in the temporary table in FIG. 3 in step S403 and the image (B) stored in the temporary table in FIG. Use to identify. A specific image of the process in step S407 will be described with reference to FIG. In step S407, the positional information on the print smear printed on the paper medium due to the abnormality of the image forming apparatus from the image data obtained by digitizing the paper medium output by the image forming apparatus by the first output unit of the present invention. It is an example of the specifying means for specifying.
<Description of FIG. 5>

  FIG. 5 is an image diagram of the processing in step S407 in the present invention. The image data obtained by removing the image (A) that the user originally desires to print from the image (B) with print stain is specified as print stain. In the case of FIG. 5, reference numeral 501 denotes printing stains. In addition, the broken line in FIG. 5 is the image of the paper on which the image is printed.

  Returning to the description of FIG.

  In step S408, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 stores the print smear information (including the position information of each black pixel of print smear) specified in step S407 in the temporary table 303 of FIG. Step S408 is an example of a storage unit that stores the position information of the print stain specified by the specifying unit of the present invention.

  In step S409, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 turns on the dirt evacuation flag (304) of the temporary table in FIG. The stain evacuation flag is turned off on a screen (not shown) displayed on the operation unit 308 of the printing device 103 when the user replaces the drum or toner that causes the print stain. At that time, all the data stored in the temporary table is deleted.

Then, the image (A) and image (B) information stored in the temporary table of FIG. 3 is deleted, and only the print smear information (303) and the evacuation flag information are left in the temporary table of FIG. The process of 4 is finished.
<Description of FIG. 6>
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a flowchart of the print dirt evacuation process in the present invention.

  In step S <b> 601, the CPU 301 of the print device 103 receives a press of a start button (print instruction button) on the operation unit 308 of the print device 103 from the user. Here, what the user prints is a print job transmitted from the client terminal 101 to the print device 103 in a page description language format, converted into bitmap data, or a user copies a paper medium such as a document. In such a case, the image data is captured in the printing device 103 by scanning the paper medium. Step S601 is an example of an output instruction receiving unit that receives an image data output instruction from the user in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Also, the user who executes printing in step S401 and the user who executes printing in step S601 are not necessarily the same.

  In step S602, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 determines whether or not the dirt evacuation flag in FIG. 3 is ON. If the dirt evacuation flag is ON, the process proceeds to step S603, and if it is OFF, the process proceeds to step S610.

  In step S603, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 determines whether the image data that the user is trying to print in step S601 overlaps the print stain stored in the temporary table of FIG. 3 in step S408 of FIG. Specifically, the position information of each black pixel of the print stain stored in the temporary table of FIG. 3 and the position information of the image data that the user executed printing in step S601 of the image data (output instruction is given by the output instruction receiving means). It is determined whether or not they overlap using the position information of the image data received from the user.

  If the print stain overlaps with the image data that the user is trying to print, the process proceeds to step S604. If the print stain does not overlap with the image data that the user is trying to print, the process proceeds to step S610.

  In step S <b> 604, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 displays a warning dialog illustrated in FIG. 7 on the operation unit 308 of the printing device 103.

  FIG. 7 is an example of a warning dialog displayed on the operation unit 308 of the printing device 103 in step S604.

  In step S <b> 605, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 determines whether the warning dialog 701 “Yes” displayed on the operation unit 308 has been pressed. If 701 “Yes” is pressed, the process proceeds to step S606, and if 702 “No” is pressed, the process proceeds to step S610.

  In step S606, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 calculates a setting for printing while avoiding printing smear. Details of the processing in step S606 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S <b> 607, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 displays a confirmation dialog (FIG. 8) including a print image (print preview) printed on the actual paper based on the result calculated in step S <b> 606 on the operation unit 308. Step S607 is an example of display means for displaying an output result image output by the second output means on the display unit of the image forming apparatus in the present invention.

  By displaying the image of the output result and allowing the user to determine whether to print the image as it is, for example, the result output in step S610 in a state where the arrangement position of the image data is changed in the process of FIG. Unnecessary printing such as re-printing with the original print settings can be prevented.

  FIG. 8 is an example of a confirmation dialog displayed on the operation unit 308 of the printing device 103 in step S607.

  In step S608, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 receives an instruction as to whether or not printing is performed with the settings illustrated in FIG. It is determined whether or not the confirmation dialog 801 “Yes” displayed on the operation unit 308 has been pressed. If 801 “Yes” is pressed, the process proceeds to step S610, and if 802 “No” is pressed, the process proceeds to step S609. Step S608 is an example of a selection accepting unit that accepts a selection of whether to output an image of the output result from the user who has received an output instruction of image data in the image forming apparatus by the output instruction accepting unit in the present invention. is there.

  In step S609, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 returns to the print settings before step S606.

In step S610, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 executes the printing of the image data that the user executed in step S601 with the print settings set up to step S609, and ends the processing in FIG. In step S609, in the present invention, the position information of the image data received from the user by the output instruction receiving means when outputting to the paper medium, and the position information of the print stain stored in the storage means are received. It is an example of a second output unit that outputs the image data so as to print the image data at a position that does not overlap the print stain on the paper medium.
<Description of FIG. 9>

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flowchart of print setting calculation processing according to the present invention.

  In step S901, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 acquires the image data printed by the user in step S601 and the position information of each black pixel of the print stain stored in the temporary table of FIG. 3 in step S408.

  In step S902, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 determines whether printing is possible without changing the printing paper while maintaining the original image data size.

  If printing is possible with the original image data size and without changing the printing paper, the process proceeds to step S903, and printing should be possible with the original image data size and without changing the printing paper. If so, the process proceeds to step S905.

Here, FIG. 10 shows a method for specifying a printable area that is a precondition for determining whether printing is possible without changing the printing paper in the original image data size in step S903. This will be described with reference to FIG.
<Description of FIG. 10>

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a method for specifying a printable area in the present invention. FIG. 10 is an image diagram showing an image in which the print stain is printed on the paper based on the print stain information stored in the temporary table of FIG.

  In FIG. 10, the horizontal length of the paper is the x axis, the vertical length of the paper is the y axis, the upper left corner of the paper is the coordinates (0, 0), the lower right corner of the paper is the x coordinate, and y Both coordinates are maximum.

  In order to identify the print stain, first, a virtual vertical line is drawn at a point (1002) where the x coordinate of the print stain 1001 is the maximum, and a virtual horizontal line at a point (1003) where the y coordinate of the print stain 1001 is the maximum. pull. Then, a blank space (hatched portion in FIG. 10) formed by the intersection of the vertical line and the horizontal line is set as a printable area.

  In step S903, whether or not printing is possible without changing the printing paper while maintaining the size of the original image data is determined when the image data is moved to the printable area side where the area is maximum. If the image data (coordinates) does not protrude from the coordinates of the outer frame of the paper, it is determined that printing is possible.

  If the area adjacent to the point with the maximum x coordinate is the maximum printable area (as shown in FIG. 10), the image data for the x coordinate of the point with the maximum x coordinate can be printed. Is moved toward the widest area (printable area (a) in FIG. 10). When the area adjacent to the point having the maximum y coordinate is the maximum printable area (as shown in FIG. 11), the image data corresponding to the y coordinate of the point having the maximum y coordinate is the most printable area. It moves toward a wide area (printable area (a) in FIG. 11).

In FIG. 10, the printable area is divided into three. However, as another embodiment, particularly when the x coordinate and the v coordinate are constant, the printable area may be divided into two as shown in FIG.
<Description of FIG. 11>

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a method for specifying a printable area in the present invention, and is an example in the case where the y coordinate of the print stain 1101 is constant.

  In FIG. 11, as in FIG. 10, the horizontal length of the paper is the x-axis, the vertical length of the paper is the y-axis, the upper left corner of the paper is the coordinate (0, 0), and the top of the paper The lower right is the maximum for both x and y coordinates.

  When the y coordinate of the black pixel of the print stain 1101 is constant as shown in FIG. 11, the printable area is divided into two without dividing it into three (printable area (a) and printable area (b)). To divide.

  Returning to the description of FIG.

In step S903, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 shifts and arranges the image data in the widest printable area so as not to overlap the printing stain as shown in FIG.
<Description of FIG. 12>

  FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C are examples of image diagrams for changing the arrangement of image data so that the image data does not overlap printing stains in the present invention. In the example of FIG. 12, since the X coordinate of the print stain is constant, the image data is moved by the X coordinate of the print stain. The leftmost diagrams of FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C are diagrams in which the print stain and the image data printed by the user in step S601 overlap.

  Returning to the description of FIG.

  In step S904, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 sets a cutting line to be cut after printing by the user at the boundary between the image data and the printing stain (see FIG. 12 for the position of the cutting line), and performs the processing of FIG. finish.

  In step S <b> 905, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 changes the currently set paper size to a larger size, and determines whether or not image data can be arranged in the margin that can be formed. More specifically, when the image data is moved toward the area where the printable area is the widest in the x or y coordinate at the point where the x or y coordinate is the maximum, the size of the original image data remains unchanged. It is determined whether or not a paper size that can be printed exists in the paper feed stage.

  If the paper size can be changed and image data can be arranged in the resulting margin, the process proceeds to step S906. If the paper size is changed and image data cannot be arranged in the resulting margin, the process proceeds to step S908.

  In step S906, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 protrudes from the coordinates of the outer frame of the sheet only by moving the image data so as not to overlap the printing stain as shown in the middle diagram of FIG. In this case, as shown in the rightmost diagram of FIG. 12B, the currently set paper size is changed to a larger size (for example, changed from A4 to A3), and the image data is changed to a margin that can be obtained thereby. (The image data is output in a margin generated by changing the setting of the size of the paper medium to be output by the size setting changing unit). Step S906 is an example of a size setting changing unit for changing the setting of the size of the paper medium output by the output unit to a larger size in the present invention.

  In step S907, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 sets cut lines on both sides of the image data (see FIG. 12 for the positions of the cut lines), and the processing in FIG. 9 ends.

  In step S908, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 protrudes from the coordinates of the outer frame of the sheet only by moving the image data so as not to overlap the printing stain as shown in the middle diagram of FIG. In the case where a paper larger than the currently set paper size is not set in the paper feed stage, as shown in the rightmost diagram of FIG. The image data is reduced in size and arranged.

  In step S909, the CPU 301 of the printing device 103 sets a cut line to be cut after printing by the user at the boundary between the image data and the print stain (see FIG. 12 for the position of the cut line), and ends the processing in FIG. To do.

  This is the end of the description of the embodiment.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mechanism capable of printing image data while avoiding printing stains when printing stains are printed on the printing result.

  Further, according to the present invention, even if the user who executes printing is different in step S401 and step S601, and the user does not notice that there is a print stain in step S601, the image data is printed as print stain. By notifying the user in the case of overlap, it is possible to prevent printing in a state where the print stain and the image data overlap.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (basic system or operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included. An information processing apparatus (computer) that can read and execute the program code realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 LAN
101 Client terminal 102 Server 103 Printing device

Claims (6)

A first output means for receiving and outputting an instruction to output image data to a paper medium in the image forming apparatus;
Specifying means for specifying position information of print stains printed on the paper medium due to an abnormality in the image forming apparatus from image data obtained by digitizing the paper medium output from the image forming apparatus by the first output means; ,
Storage means for storing position information of the print stain specified by the specifying means;
An output instruction receiving means for receiving an output instruction of image data in the image forming apparatus from a user;
Using the position information of the image data received from the user by the output instruction receiving means when outputting to the paper medium, and the position information of the print stain stored in the storage means, the printing of the paper medium An image forming apparatus comprising: a second output unit that outputs the image data to print the image data at a position that does not overlap with dirt. Display means for displaying an image of an output result output from the second output means on a display unit of the image forming apparatus;
Selection accepting means for accepting selection of whether to output as an image of the output result from the user who has accepted an output instruction of image data in the image forming apparatus by the output instruction accepting means;
The second output means receives an output instruction from the user by the output instruction reception means when outputting to a paper medium on condition that the selection acceptance means accepts a selection to be output as an image of the output result. Using the received position information of the image data and the position information of the print stain stored in the storage unit, the image data is output to print the image data at a position not overlapping the print stain of the paper medium. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. Size setting changing means for changing the setting of the size of the paper medium output by the output means to a larger size,
The second output means includes the position information of the image data received from the user by the output instruction reception means when outputting to a paper medium, and the position information of the print stain stored in the storage means. In order to print the image data at a position that does not overlap the print stain on the paper medium, the image data is placed in a margin generated by changing the setting of the size of the paper medium output by the size setting change unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus outputs the image.   The second output means includes the position information of the image data received from the user by the output instruction reception means when outputting to a paper medium, and the position information of the print stain stored in the storage means. 4. The image formation according to claim 1, wherein the image data is reduced and output so that the image data is printed at a position that does not overlap the print stain on the paper medium. 5. apparatus. A control method for an image forming apparatus including a first output unit that receives and outputs an instruction to output image data to a paper medium in the image forming apparatus,
A specifying step of specifying, from image data obtained by digitizing the paper medium output from the image forming apparatus by the first output unit, positional information of print stains printed on the paper medium due to an abnormality in the image forming apparatus; ,
A storage step of storing position information of the print stain specified in the specifying step;
An output instruction receiving step of receiving an output instruction of image data in the image forming apparatus from a user;
Using the position information of the image data received from the user in the output instruction receiving step when outputting to the paper medium and the position information of the print stain stored in the storage step, the printing of the paper medium And a second output step of outputting the image data so as to print the image data at a position that does not overlap with dirt. A program executed by an image forming apparatus including a first output unit that receives and outputs an instruction to output image data to a paper medium in the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus;
Specifying means for specifying position information of print stains printed on the paper medium due to an abnormality in the image forming apparatus from image data obtained by digitizing the paper medium output from the image forming apparatus by the first output means; ,
Storage means for storing position information of the print stain specified by the specifying means;
An output instruction receiving means for receiving an output instruction of image data in the image forming apparatus from a user;
Using the position information of the image data received from the user by the output instruction receiving means when outputting to the paper medium, and the position information of the print stain stored in the storage means, the printing of the paper medium A program that functions as a second output means for outputting the image data to print the image data at a position that does not overlap with dirt.

Images